How to Pronounce “desperado”

British (UK)

/dɛspəˈɹɑːdəʊ/

noun — A bold outlaw, especially one from southern portions of the Wild West.

Where the stress falls. “desperado” has 4 syllables, and the transcription /dɛspəˈɹɑːdəʊ/ puts the primary stress mark (ˈ) before the third one — so the third syllable is the longest and loudest. The others are said quickly and lightly.

An unstressed vowel reduces to schwa. /dɛspəˈɹɑːdəʊ/ contains a schwa /ə/ — the short, neutral “uh” that English unstressed syllables collapse into. Saying /ə/ there, instead of the vowel the spelling suggests, is most of what makes the word sound native.

What does "desperado" mean?

desperado (noun): A bold outlaw, especially one from southern portions of the Wild West.

Which syllable is stressed in "desperado"?

“desperado” has 4 syllables, and the transcription /dɛspəˈɹɑːdəʊ/ puts the primary stress mark (ˈ) before the third one — so the third syllable is the longest and loudest. The others are said quickly and lightly.